Agent Type — What Types of Agents Interact with AtStake and How?
Individual agents are the participants that create, retain, transfer and act upon the knowledge flows associated with an AtStake session. No automated agents of any consequence are
involved with the process; standard office automation software can be used in preparation
and documentation, but it is not required.
Organizational agents are certainly involved because the primary function of AtStake is
to help groups to think collaboratively and produce a tangible product, if needed. Also,
the impact of an AtStake session is usually felt most directly at the organizational level.
One of the primary outcomes is a creation of a shared reality that mobilizes and provides
focus to an organization’s diverse (and sometimes autonomous) components.
The role of the organizational agent is so important to an AtStake session that special
consideration should be given to including individuals whose concerns fall clearly
outside the scope of the targeted organizational agent(s). These external stakeholders
(e.g.customers, clients, information and technology suppliers, regulators, auditors, approval
bodies and financiers) must be active participants to ensure that they come to consensus
at a point that not only suits them, but is also consistent with the broader community of
interests that will ultimately determine the success or failure of the enterprise.